Return to PKR? No way, says Ezam

Former PKR Youth chief Ezam Mohd Nor, who quit the opposition party last June, has trashed a report that he has pleaded to be re-admitted so that he can contest in the general election.

An article posted last Friday on political blog Malaysia Today claimed that Ezam had spoken to a leader in the Youth wing and that the matter was then raised with a PKR vice-president.

In the report, writer Zulkifli Mohamed further said PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim was prepared to consider this on the condition that Ezam issues a public apology for having left the party.

"This report about my wanting to rejoin PKR and to contest under its banner is incorrect and malicious in its intentions," said Ezam in a statement.

He described it as a "cheap political tactic adopted by hypocritical and opportunistic leaders in PKR", and alleged that Zulkifli had been hired to spread the rumour.

"I was approached by other parties but not PKR. They wanted me to contest under their banner because they thought that Gerak’s fight against graft would be more significant if it is battled out in Parliament," he said.

"If I want to contest the elections, I will do so as an independent candidate."

Ezam heads corruption watchdog Gerak, which he set up after leaving PKR.

He claimed that such rumours indicates dissatisfaction with the PKR leadership following his departure from the party.

In an interview with malaysiakini last June to explain why he had quit PRK, he said he had lost faith in the party leadership, including Anwar (photo) who had been his mentor.

He accused Anwar of behaving like a "dictator" and said he was a "weak" leader who was being "controlled" by vice-president Azmin Ali.

Ezam and Azmin - Anwar’s former private secretary - had openly locked horns when Azmin had vied for deputy presidency while Ezam wanted the status quo to remain.